Circle vs Fourthwall
Side-by-side comparison on fees, payouts, monetization, and audience ownership.
Platform fee
$89/mo + 2% · monthly subscription plus transaction fee
0-5% · 0% on merch, 5% on digital
Payout speed
weekly
monthly
Minimum payout
Stripe default
$25
Countries
Wherever Stripe operates
Stripe-supported
Email list export
Full access
Full access
Custom domain
Yes (custom domain supported)
Yes (custom + free .store on Pro)
Community features
Full-featured: spaces, chat, DMs, live rooms, events
Member-only posts, Discord integrations
Best for
Coaches, creators, and brands running paid communities plus courses under one roof
YouTubers running merch plus membership tiers from one homebase
Circle vs Fourthwall: which one wins?
Circle charges $89/mo + 2% (monthly subscription plus transaction fee) versus Fourthwall at 0-5% (0% on merch, 5% on digital).
On payout speed, Circle pays weekly while Fourthwall pays monthly. For creators where cashflow matters, the faster cadence usually wins.
For audience ownership, Circle offers full access email export and Fourthwall offers full access. Email portability matters most for creators planning to migrate later or build a list independent of any single platform.
Best for: Circle suits coaches, creators, and brands running paid communities plus courses under one roof. Fourthwall fits youtubers running merch plus membership tiers from one homebase.